University of Illinois Facilities and Services

CHAMPAIGN, IL – Facilities & Services (F&S) and Champaign County Bikes, along with volunteers from the community, will perform a Campus Bicycle Census on April 28, 10–11 a.m. The data collected by the group will update the university bicycle database, which is used to identify high-ridership locations for mobility and safety improvements. The information will also guide future planning for bicycle and active transportation projects, such as complete streets and bike rack upgrades.

Due to the COVID-19 safety protocols, all volunteers will be required to follow the university’s in-person event guidelines, such as observing social distancing and wearing a face covering. The census numbers obtained will provide a unique look at ridership levels during this semester and offer important details about traveling behaviors on campus in advance of academic year 21–22.

Sarthak Prasad, sustainable transportation assistant for F&S said, “Due to the pandemic and staffing adjustments, this is our first opportunity to get a bike count since 2018. While we anticipate that the numbers will be impacted with so many students still being away from campus, this effort will give us a unique look at how individuals throughout Urbana-Champaign are presently utilizing the UIUC bicycle network and show the impact that bike path improvements, parking upgrades, and online bicycle registration are still making.”

Using the new census information, F&S will update the interactive Campus Bike Parking Map to help riders more easily find parking locations. The map highlights more than 500 different bicycle parking areas. Previous censuses on the Urbana campus counted more than 5,000 parked bicycles over one hour.  

The census began in 2013 to support the campus’ Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) status. In 2019, the university was recognized as a silver-level BFU by the League of American Bicyclists for taking significant steps to address health and environmental challenges by creating safer, more welcoming, and accessible areas for people who bike.  More information about the census is on the Bike at Illinois website.

NOTE: If inclement weather is forecasted for the census period, the event will be postponed.